16 Mar 2005

Hawaii tsunami centre sued over Asian disaster

2:23 pm on 16 March 2005

Survivors and relatives of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami last year have sued the federal agency that operates the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre based in Hawaii.

The lawsuit was filed last week in New York federal court by a plaintiffs group that includes at least 58 European survivors and family members of victims.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre monitors seismic and ocean conditions in the Pacific Basin and issues warnings to member nations.

It's based on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Officials have refused to comment on the complaint but have previously said the centre wasn't set up to warn countries outside the Pacific rim.